Florida Senate - 2011 (NP) SR 188 By Senator Hill 1-00225-11 2011188__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing September 2011 as “Prostate 3 Cancer Awareness Month.” 4 5 WHEREAS, prostate cancer is the most common cancer 6 diagnosed among men in Florida, and the American Cancer Society 7 estimates that more than 217,730 new cases of prostate cancer 8 were diagnosed among men in the United States during 2010, and 9 WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society also anticipates that 10 there were more than 2,590 deaths in Florida last year 11 attributed to prostate cancer, and 12 WHEREAS, Florida has the third-highest incidence rate and 13 the second-highest number of prostate cancer deaths in the 14 United States, and 15 WHEREAS, African American and black men have the highest 16 prostate cancer death rate in the world, and a mortality rate 17 that is twice that of white men, and 18 WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society recommends that annual 19 prostate cancer testing begin at age 50, except for men at high 20 risk, such as African Americans and men having a family history 21 of the disease, who are advised to begin annual screening at age 22 45, and 23 WHEREAS, the 5-year survival rate for prostate cancer 24 patients is 100 percent if the disease is diagnosed at the local 25 and regional stages, otherwise known as the early stages, and 26 WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society supports African 27 American Men’s Health Summits in at least 16 major metropolitan 28 areas across the state in an attempt to increase prostate cancer 29 awareness and prostate screening among African American men in 30 Florida, and 31 WHEREAS, the Man-to-Man Program of the American Cancer 32 Society attempts to increase prostate cancer awareness, 33 education, and support during the month of September and 34 throughout the year, NOW, THEREFORE, 35 36 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 37 38 That September 2011 is recognized as “Prostate Cancer 39 Awareness Month” in Florida and all men are urged to understand 40 the risks associated with prostate cancer, to take preventive 41 steps to minimize those risks, and to talk to their doctor about 42 annual prostate cancer screening and compliance with the 43 prostate cancer screening guidelines recommended by the American 44 Cancer Society.